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Sunday, November 23, 2008

UFC Fighters Forced To Sign Video Game Deal?

Several online reports have suggested that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and game maker THQ have forced many fighters to sign away their name and likeness forever.

UFC president, Dana White, cut fighters after they refused to sign a lifetime agreement for their likeness in the upcoming THQ title UFC 2009 Undisputed. According to Yahoo! Sports and Sports Illustrated, welterweight contender Jon Fitch was cut from the mixed martial arts organization, only to be reinstated a short time later after he decided to sign a licensing contract.

Originally Finch said, "We thought that was kind of crazy, why would you sign anything away for your lifetime?"

When Fitch didn't deliver on the "favor" of signing, which White requested, he said he was told "either you're in if you sign this, or you're getting cut." Fitch effectively chose the latter, though he "never thought it was possible" that the UFC would actually release him. On Wednesday, Fitch received an email from the UFC notifying him that his deal was accelerated and terminated.

In a response to Finch and other UFC-signed mixed martial artists sharing his opinion Dana White, whom perceived to be working against his company's interests, told Yahoo! that fighters choosing to shun the licensing deal, including AKA's Josh Koscheck and Cain Velasquez, were no longer "partners with us. [Expletive] them. All of them, every last [expletive] one of them."

Less than 24 hours later, Fitch was back with the UFC and has signed a contract that will allow his likeness to appear in UFC Undisputed 2009. Whether the deal Fitch ultimately agreed to was different from the original contract isn't clear.